GRANGER — Employees at KNDA radio in Granger made the decision to strike on May 16th. Jesus Sosa, the station’s production manager, cited the reason for the strike was the unfair firing of two employees that according to him came with no warning and the firing was a decision based on “hear-say.”  
Maria Fernandez, executive director for the station stated the original contract of employment was an ‘at-will’ state, and “any violation of policies can include and up to termination.” 
Fernandez explained her plans as a fairly new executive director for the station, to implement many changes, including “progressive discipline.”  Strikers reported one employee was fired for union activity. 
“All employees’ termination was based on performance and had absolutely nothing to do with union activity,” Fernandez said. “We support the union,” she added. 
The board of directors voted to recognize Teamster 760 as the union to represent their employees on February 10, 2009.
Fernandez believes employees are really upset at the stations change in programming, and procedures. 
“Our mission statement is to serve all Spanish-speaking Latinos,” Fernandez said. “This now includes migrant farm workers, and their families.
“As times are changing, and Latinos are making the Valley their home, we are now serving a bi-lingual and bi-cultural community. Change is apart of life.”
Fernandez seeks to change programming to be relevant to all of their audience, and to talk about issues that are usually overlooked.
“Issues like teen pregnancy, gang activity, and what happens to the children in a deportation case are all relevant to our audience of bi-lingual and bi-cultural Latinos,” she said. 
Fernandez explained her platform for new relevant programming is a good stewardship of the funding they receive. In Fernandez’s new position she also has implemented a new system of accountability in the workplace.
She reported prior to her employment that there was excessive flexibility in scheduling. 
“I believe I was hired to raise the benchmark in all areas, with good stewardship of our funding and relevant programming to our changing demographic,” she said. “I haven’t hired new people, because we are hoping they will come back to work.”
Sosa explained what the employees on strike are seeking,
“We only want two things, a grievance process and for our two fired employees to have their jobs back, we will be out here as long as it takes for things to change,” Sosa said. 
Fernandez reported that The National Labor Relations Board will decide on the former employee’s positions.